Folding bed



Nov. 13, 1928.

J. M. THOMSON FOLDING BED- Filed Nov. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m w M Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,260

. J. M. THOMSON FOLDING BED Filed Nov. 9, 1925 iilll IH' illllli In nn "H ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 13, 1928 UNITEDSTATES J'OHN M. THOMSON, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

FOLDING BED.

Application filed November 9, 1925. Serial No. 67,851. V

This invention relates to an improved hinge for a folding bed of the type wherein the frame supporting the usual spring and mattress is pirotally connected at one end to a small truclrframe so that the spring and mattress can be swung to a substantially vertical position to permit the bed, when not in use, to be stored in a comparatively small space, such as a closet.

An object of the invention is to provide such a hinge having a spring member opera Lively connected therewith to counterbalance the weight of theswinging bed when swung from a folded to an unfoldedposition.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a folding bed hinge having a torsionspring mounted therein with means for adjusting the tension of the spring so that the counterbalancing force exerted thereby will be sufficient to offset the weight of the swinging bed and its associated parts.

A further object is to provide a spring hinge having a single double-acting spring mounted therein, which spring functions to counterbalance the weight of the swinging portion of the bed and provide a cushion therefor when swung to its normal inoperative position.

Other objects of theinvention will appear from the following description and accom panying drawings and willbe pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention but it is to be understood that the invention is not confinedto the exact features shown, as variouschanges may be made within the scope of the claims whlch follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, 1

Figural is a view in side elevation of a folding bed showing the invention applied thereto; 7

Figure'2 is an enlarged detail sectional. view on the line 22 of Figure 1 showing the general construction of the hinge;

Figure 3 is an end view of the upper portion of Figure 2 showing the hinge and the bed frame disconnected from the supporting frame; l

Figure 4: is a View similar to :Fi gure 3 taken on the line4.- l of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an end view of the torsion spring removed from the hinge; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the supporting truck frame with the bed frame removed including the. bottom 7 and mattress 8, is

swung to its vertical day time position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the legs Willassume the positions shown 1 An important feature of this invention resides in the novel means provided for pivotally connecting the opposite end of the bed frame 6 to the supporting frame 11, which preferably is carried. by suitable casters 12 as shown n Figure 1. a The means provided for thus pivotally connecting the frame 6 to the uprights 1 10f the supporting frame ll, preferably consists of blocks or sleeves 15 mounted upon and secured to each side rail of the frame 6 as shown in Figure 2. Each block 15 as a sleeve is provided with anoutwardly ex? tending boss 16bored to receive one endof a pivot pin 17 suitably secured thereto. An an-.

nular flange or extension 18 is also formed on the sleeve 15 adapted to receive one end of a cylinder or spring housing 19 having a radial. projection or tongue 21depending therefrom adapted to be demountably received in a socket 22, terminally provided on the upright post 145. The tongue 21 and also the opposed walls of the socket 22 are apertured to receive. a cap screw or bolt 23 for the purpose of securing the tongue and the cylinder 19 to the post 14. It will be understood that both sides of the stationary frame ll'are provided with the supporting standards l lfand these standards are equipped with the spring housings having bearings for the tilting frame.

A torsion spring .24 is concentrically mounted within the housing 19 and has one endseated upon the boss 16 as particularly shown in Figure 2. Theends of thespring 24 are preferably outwardly bent as shownin Figure 5 to provide the end-portions 25 and 26 which'function to prevent the spring from.

relatively rotating in the cylinder. The endportion 25 is received in a slot 27 provided in the annular flange 18 of the block 15, and the opposite end-portion '26 is similarly seated inaslot 28 provided in theinwardly projecting annular flange 29 of a cap'31 adjustably secured to the end of the housing 19 by means of cap screws 32. The end of the housing and also the abutting face of the cap 31are provided witha series .of small ridges or notches 33 which cooperate with the screws 32 to prevent the cap 31 from'relatively rotating upon'the housing when the spring 24is put underv tension, as when the bed is lowered to its open position. Arcuatelyformed slots 34 are provided in the cap 31 to receive the screws 32 so that it may be relatively rotated upon the housing when it is, desired to adjust the tension of the spring upon the adjacent face ofthe cap. Sockets latter as above described.

housing.

flange 18.

are provided inthe outwardly extending hub SGofthe cap adapted to receive a suitable wrench or instrument forrelative'ly rotating the cap when adjusting the tension of the A. relatively smaller hub or boss 37 is provided on the inner face of the cap 31 to provide a seat for the adjacent end of thespring 94 so that it will be concentrically retained within the Thus it will be seen as a result of the end-portion 25 of the spring being seated in the slot 27 in the annular The opposite end of the spring willbesimilarly connected or locked to the cap 31 and to the cylinder 19 by reason of the end-portion 28 of the spring being seated in the slot 28. Therefore, when the pivot block 15 is rotated with relation to the cylinder 19, in the operation of lowering the bed frame 6, the spring 24 will be put under tension as result of one end being heldstationary when the opposite end is being ro tated with the block 15. Such increased tension in the spring 24 will be suflici'ent'to counterbalance the weight of the swinging frame 6 and associated parts- Should the tension in the spring 24 be insufficient to counterbalance the weight of the frame 6 when the latter isbeing lowered to its open position, then the cap 31 may be relatively adjusted upon the cylinder 19 until the desired degree of tension in the spring is obtained, thereby providing means whereby the springs may be relatively adjusted to counterbalance the weight of the bed frame, bedding, etc. The hub 36 of the cap 31 provides a bearing for one end of the pin 17 while the flange 18 at. the opposite end of the pin will have a bearing in the cylinder 19,

thereby providing a very substantial bearing that one end of the spring 24 is connectedto the pivot block 15 effect is accomplished by offsetting the end portion 2621s will be'notedf by reference to Figure 5, so that when the frame is in an upright position or at right angles to the full line position in Figure 1, the end-portion 26 will be substantially in alignment with the.

end-portion 25 as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 5, thereby tending to slightly unwind the spring which, obviously, will put a slight reverse tension thereon. The particle lar construction of this novel spring hinge is such as to render it well adapted for use in folding beds of the above character and its construction adapts it for manufacture at a minimum cost. The usual head frame 38 of the bed is shown demountably mounted upon the truck frame 11 by means of the posts 39 secured to the frame 11. Instead of mounting thetilting bed frame on a truck frame it may be supported by stationary brackets or hangers on the wall. I I

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a base having side rails, vertical standards-secured tothe siderails, each stand ard having a socket at its upper terminal, a cylinder for each standard having a projcc tion removably engaged with the socket, the cylinders axially alined crosswise of the base, a bed frame having side rails each having a sleeve thereon, each sleeve having a lateral cylindrical extension rotatably engaged with the inner end of a cylinder, said extension having an axial bore and inwardly faced radial spring-end receiving slot, a cap rotatably engaged within each cylinder for angular adjustment, means for positively securing the cap in adjusted'positions, said cap having an inwardly facing radial spring-end receiving slot, and a coiled torsion spring longitudinally disposed within-each cylinder,.said spring having radially disposedterminals engaging the slots as stops, said springs ar ranged to be slightly unwound or countertensioned immediately before the bed frame reaches its storage or upright position, to obtain a cushion effect.

2. A base, sockets axially aligned crosswise of the base at opposite sides thereof, a frame having side rails each of which has a pro-' upon the opposite end of each socket, and

coil spring within each socket having its terminals respectively engaged with projection and cap, to submit the spring to torsion when the frame is lowered.

3. A base, sockets axially aligned crosswise of the base at. opposite sides thereof, a frame having side rails each of which has a projection rotatable within one end of a corresponding socket, a cap .rotatably adjustable within the opposite end of each socket, and a coil spring within each socket havingits ter minalsrespectively engaged with projection and cap, to submit the spring to torsion when the frame is lowered.

A base, sockets axially aligned crosswise of the base at opposite sides thereof, a frame having side rails each of which has a projection rotatable upon and closingone end of a corresponding socket, a cap rotatably ad justable upon and closing the opposite end of each socket, and a coil spring within each socket having itsterminals respectively engaged with projection and cap, to submitthe spring to torsion when the frame is low red.

A base, sockets axially aligned crosswise of the base at opposite sides thereof, a frame having side rails each of which has a projection rotatable upon one end of a corresponding socket, a' cap rotatabiy adjustable upon the opposite end of each socket, and a coil spring within each socket having its terminals respectively engaged with projection and cap, to submit the spring to torsion when the frame is lowered, means for securing the caps in adjusted position.

6. A base, sockets axially aligned crosswise of the base at opposite sides thereof, a frame having side rails each of which has a projection rotatable upon one end of a correspond-- ing socket, a cap rotatably adjustable upon the opposite end of each socket, and a,.co;i spring within each socket havlng its terminals.

respectively engaged with projection and cap, to submit the spring to torsion when the frame is lowered, said spring being arranged to unwind or counter-tension immediately be said springs being arranged to unwind or counter-tension immediatel before the frame reaches its storage or uprig it position.

8. A base, sockets axially aligned crosswise of the base at opposite sides thereof, a frame having side rails each of which has a projection rotatable within one end of a corresponding socket, a cap rotatably adjustable within the opposite end of each socket, and a coil spring within each socket having its terminals respectively engaged with projection and cap, to submit the spring to torsion when the frame is lowered, each socket being detachably secured toits rail for removal in an upward direction.

9. A base,sockets axially aligned crosswise of the base at opposite sides thereof, a frame having side rails each of which has a projection rotatable upon one end of a correspond ing socket, a cap rotatably adjustable upon the opposite end of each socket, and a. coil spring within each socket having its terminals respectively engaged with projection and cap, to submit the spring to torsion when the frame is lowered, and a rod within each socket secured to the cap, traversing the spring and removably stepped in the projection.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of November, 1925.

JOHN M. THOMSON. 

